Adjustable strap assembly



Aug. 28, 1951 G. H. REINBERGER ADJUSTABLE STRAP ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 14, 1949 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 28, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE STRAP ASSEMBLY George Henry Reinberger, Chicago, Ill. Application December 14, 1949, Serial No. 132,879

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an adjustable strap assembly for use with garments such as slips, hose supports, and the like.

An object of this invention is to produce an adjustable strap assembly having in combination an adjuster and a novel arrangement of straps which provide for simple and expedient adjustment of the length of the straps while preventing inadvertent slippage as an incidence to normal use.

Another object is to produce an adjustable strap assembly including a novel arrangement of straps in combination with an adjuster which permits adjustment for length to be made without detachment, which prevents slipping of the straps while in position of use, which permits assembly and adjustment to be made in an expedient manner, and which does not bulge or have a massive appearance but lies comfortably, neatly and flatly in position of use.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the strap assembly embodying features of this invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged top view of the adjuster used in the assembly shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the elements in Figure 3 with the straps in loosened condition for better illustration of their arrangement and Figure 5 is an enlarged top view of a modified form of adjuster which may be used in effecting an assembly embodying features of this invention.

As shown in Figure 2, the invention may be practiced with an adjuster having a pair of spaced rectangular eyelets l and H connected at one end by an arm l2. If desired, the eyelets may be connected at both ends without interfering with the operation of the assembly. Thus, there is provided a transverse slot I3 disposed between inner arms or walls [4 and 15 respectively of the eyelets llland II. The outer walls or arms I6 and II of the respective eyelets may be slotted, as at l8, to enhance threading of the straps l9 and 20 within the respective eyelets.

In assembly, strap I9 may be looped over and arranged with the looped portion 2| anchored about the inner cross arm l of the eyelet I I while the adjacent double portion of the strap I 9 is threaded over the other arm [4 and through the other eyelet Ill. The looped portion 22 of the other doubled over strap 2G is anchored about the other inner arm It of the eyelet It and the adjacent doubled portion of the strap is threaded under the arm 15 and through the first eyelet I 1. While the straps are in the loosened condition, as shown in Figure 4, one strap or the other may be slipped in the usual manner for adjustment of length. When the straps are tensioned lengthwise, as shown in Figure 3, the assembly assumes a relatively flat non-bulky condition and it is difficult for the straps to slip and cause inadvertent adjustment of length.

It appears that the resistance to slippage in the assembled relation results from the compression that occurs between adjacent contacting walls of the doubled over straps, creating a frictional relationship which militates against their relative movement and thereby substantially prevents inadvertent slippage while in position of use.

For adjustment of length, it is only necessary to relieve this compressive frictional relationship hat is established. This adjustment may be achieved by loosening the outer strap portion, unthreading the outer strap portion from the eyelet through which it is threaded, or unthreading both of the doubled over strap portions from the eyelet through which it is threaded. After the adjustment for length has been achieved, a permanent relationship can quickly be reestablished by rethreading the strap or straps through the respective eyelet. In the vent that adjustment has been made by means of loosening the outer strap of the doubled over straps, mere tightening will reestablish the normal assembled relation.

In such instances where the strap is more or less permanently attached to the garment and is subsequently incapable of adjustment for length, the outer arm It or H of the respective eyelet through which it is threaded may be without a slot, as shown in Figure 5, since threading and unthreading in the eyelet will be unnecessary.

It is also possible to dispense with the slotted portion in every instance, since threading can-be accomplished in the desired manner in the initial assembly, subsequent adjustment may be achieved by the technique of relieving pressure between the adjacent strap sections merely by loosening the outer strap section which bears against the inner strap section in the regions which turn over the inner arm of the opposite eyelet and under the outer arm of that same eyelet.

It will be manifest that a new and novel arrangement of straps and adjuster is provided, which permits assembly and adjustment for length in a simple and expedient manner. It will be evident that the number of loops of the straps and the number of layers of straps cooperating with the adjuster in the assembled relation is at a minimum, thereby reducing bulk and increasing the wearing qualities and comfort. The arrangement upon tension is such that the assembly does and can lie very flat and comfortably in position of use.

It will be understood that the slots, when used, may be arranged in other parts of the eyelets such as in the side walls or in the corner sections and that numerous other changes may be made in the details of construction of the adjuster, without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

An adjustable strap assembly comprising, in combination, an adjuster having four spaced parallel interconnected bars defining three parallel slots therebetween, the outer bars having slots extending through to the slots defined by the adjacent inner bars, and a pair of strap members threaded thereabout, one strap member being doubled with the looped end portion anchored about one of the inner bars while the adjacent doubled over portions pass together in one direction over the other inner bar and down through the slot between the other inner bar and the outer bar adjacent thereto, the other strap memher being doubled and having the looped end portion anchored about the other inner bar, while the adjacent doubled over portion passes over the first inner bar and upwardly through the slot between the first inner bar and the outer bar adjacent thereto.

GEORGE HENRY REINBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 Number Name Date 726,404 Carpenter Apr. 28, 1903 FOREIGN PATENTS 25 Number Country Date 451,188 Great Britain July 31, 1936 

